Redskins' Niles Paul is excelling as a team leader

Two years ago Washington Redskins TE Niles Paul was ready to show fans what he could do as an emerging tight end.

The former Nebraska star had been penciled in as the team’s starting tight end and was expected to pair with current Pro Bowler Jordan Reed to give the Redskins a deadly, athletic, tandem at the position.

Unfortunately for Paul, that never would matriculate because of a gruesome injury, he sustained in the team’s first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.

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The former fifth round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft — as a wide receiver — fractured and dislocated his ankle and would be lost for the season.

Since then Paul has become a jack-of-all-trades over the past few seasons. He has lined up at TE, WR, FB and is also a team captain on special teams.

Paul is also excelling as a team leader. The Redskins are becoming younger at key positions as the team has only a handful of players — Paul being one — that were drafted by former coach Mike Shanahan.

Paul is one of those players and has taken the leadership role seriously.

TE Niles Paul with TD from Cousins and greeted back to sidelines by every big name on team. Dude is recognized as a leader. #Redskins

While speaking with the seventh-year player it was apparent by his responses that he wanted to embrace that role and also is excited to be back on the field after his 2016 season was cut short due to a labrum injury.

“I’m just grateful to be doing something I love and having the opportunity to be back out on the field with my teammates,” Paul said. “My body finally feels good where I feel like I’m back to where I was two years ago. My speed is back and I feel great condition wise.”

Paul has had a really good training camp and is playing well early in this preseason. He scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass in Saturday’s 21-17 loss to the Packers.

Can't stress enough how well Niles Paul has played all throughout camp. He needs more PT in the regular season. #Redskins

“Niles has been one of the most impressive guys to me in camp,” Gruden. “He’s another guy, he’s like Ryan Grant in that we can ask him to do anything. He’ll play in-the-core Y, we’ll put him at fullback, he lines up outside. His speed looks where it was before the injuries. I mean, I think he’s had an outstanding training camp so far. He’s done so many different things. And that’s one of the toughest positions – a tight end, the move tight end. You’ve got to know all the blocking schemes, you’ve got to know all the pass patterns and you’ve got to know a lot of the protections. So he’s handled everything effortlessly with great effort, and [has] been very productive. I’m anxious to see Niles play more.”

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Lake Lewis Jr

USA TODAY Sports Media Group RedskinsWire Managing Editor, Lewis is a Washington Redskins Insider and TV Analyst. Owner and Founder of SportsJourney, Lewis is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).